lunteers, to chufe and love the government of Christ, and count themselves easy and happy under his yoke? Such are the peculiar people, which our Lord has purchased to himself: and this is indeed, a part of his purchase made for them, that they should have the grace fo willingly to offer themselves, and be willing to have him do, even what he will with them: not forced to it, but glad of it as finding nothing more to their good liking, than to be, and to do, as he would have them. Thus, they who did grudge and reluctate, and nothing but make oppofition, do grow more rigorous, and pliant, and tractable, yielding themselves to the Lord, leaving all for him; folacing their fouls in his everlasting arms; and following the Lamb, whitherfoever he goes. So fweet to them is the fense of their pardon, and the hopes of heaven; that it brings their very hearts into his fervice, and gives fuch life and wings to their endeavours, that nothing makes them fo cheerful, as to find themselves in fuch hands, and busied about his work.

But so perverse is the nature of finful man; fo full of prejudice against the ways of God; yea, fo apt to fcorn the things of Jefus Chrift: fuch a bias of corruption does he carry within and fuch a force of temptation does he meet with abroad: that never would he get through all those impediments in his way, did not the Lord feize and carry him, by an almighty efficacy, to put him in a condition of fafety. The great God himself must take him in hand to perfuade and bring him to it, and make him willing in the day of his power, meet for the master's use, and for the faint's inheritance. O how may Minifters, elfe, ftill fpend their ftrength for nought, and labour in vain. And the finner himself will make nothing of it neither: if God that made him, do not alfo new-make him, and turn him, that he may be turned, so as to be healed and faved. VOL. II.

G

O how

O how far was I from what I fhould be, when I had not fo much as any good-will, nor kindness for the work? When, with fo much ado, I was brought to my prayers, and to the duties of attendance upon him, whom above all, my foul, thou haft the greatest reafon to love? Here then fee a work, worthy of God; not to make a forcible entry, and break in with violence upon the will; and yet without any fuch compulfion, to do more, than could be done, by all manner of perfuafion: that is, to give life to the dead; which to effect, O what can the most plaufible winning words ever avail? But here a fupernatural attraction of divine grace comes and fets the faculties at liberty, takes off the embargo and the enmity, and brings all to move away readily and pleasantly. And though the man feems to do all purely of himfelf, upon his own reasoning, and confidering of matters (fuch and fuch caufes inducing and moving him to it :) yet, fecond caufes are (all of them) over-ruled by the Supreme, that drives all home, to do the work. And does not experience ftill tell thee, my foul, how impotent I am, either to move, or fo much as to ftand, without the fame power, that at firft did fet me up? When finful corruption breeds indifpofition, in the spiritual temper; and prevalent temptations make fo many interruptions in the pious frame: by fuch unhappy incidents, O how frequently am I taken off my mettle; and lie by difabled, and even "to every good work reprobate?" But when, " to will is "prefent with me; and through grace, my mind and heart is to the fervice; even a little then, and that but poorly done by me, fhall be well taken from me. And though I do not always find it fo well as fometimes it has been with me, yet will I wait for his kind hand, who has wrought powerfully on my behalf already, again to restore me; and at laft, to perfect what concerns me.

66

"

THE

L°

ORD of power and love! on whom I ever do depend, for all my fpiritual, as well as "natural life: without whofe quickening influence "I am an inactive log, that can do nothing accep" table to my God: O fhew the victorious power "of thy almighty hand; and the wonderful effects "of thy heavenly grace, upon my poor disabled "foul: to make me willing to offer up myself to "the Lord, and full of life and ftrength to do thy "will; yea, and love to do it; and delight in no"thing more than to be fo employed. O work "the will in those that are yet unwilling: and let "me find thy good hand upon me; and thy blef"fed Spirit working mightily in me, to transform " and renew me, and to carry me even out of self, "beyond my own ftrength, that I may go on un"wearied in my course, and abound in thy work, "not only for a fpurt, but all the days of my life. "Amen."

MEDITATION XIV.

Of God's kindness for godly men.

O My foul! how different from the

way

of this

world, are the measures which the righteous Lord, who loveth righteousnefs, does take, in mak. ing his favourites? When he looks not only upon the rich and the great, and men of renown; but fets apart for himself, that godly man; who is the world's fpight and difdain: and though fuch a one may have nothing but his godlinefs to recom

mend

mend him; yet that alone, fhall be enough to ingratiate and endear him. For indeed, how can the holy God chufe but incline to that holiness, which is his own image, and his own nature? Needs muft they be favoured by him, that are all for conformity to him. When it is even natural to affect our like, fuch as are of our own mind and way, and the very transcript of ourselves. And when he that fanctifieth, and they who are fanctified are all of one: Chrift being conceived by the Holy Ghoft, and believers being born of the fame Spirit, the Lord will be fure to have a tender regard to his own grace and likeness, wherever he finds it. And they that refemble him, and are even one with him; (and upon that account, do alfo fuffer for him) they fhall not (they cannot) ever be difowned, or forgotten by him. No, but he loves his own, and he will love them, whoever elfe hates them; and most highly esteems them, whoever elfe despises them. As he is precious to them that believe, fo are believers precious in his fight, and he tenders them even as parts of himself.

Here then, fee, my foul, the blindness of fome, who would be thought very fharp-fighted men that they do not understand the worth of God's jewels, nor perceive any form or comelinefs in his darlings. What a wonder is here, that the men, who take a pride to be in their prince's fashion, and to imitate the biggest in this world, yet fcorn to be followers of God, as dear children: and look upon them as ridiculous antiques, who aim at any fuch thing; counting it enough to lofe a man, if he but offer to become a godly man. Who are fo 'much difliked by the earthly brood, as they that thew moft likeness to their heavenly Father? But however the world's children may think fit to treat them, yet never will he the worfe like them. No, but the higher ftill fhall they be in his books, the

more

more they are run down for his fake; because they have eyes to fee the beauties of that holiness, which others run from as from a monfter; and they will efpoufe the godly caufe, even among fuch as repute it fcandalous to appear on that account. When their hearts are full of care, to take holy ways, and to please the Lord, in living according to his Word: God that is for them, will then make all that are against them know how much he has loved them, and how highly he refents the malignity of fuch as will prefume to touch the apple of his eye, and ftrike at him, in perfecuting of them. They that are lovers of holinefs, are the beloved of the Moft High and Holy ONE: though their fanctification be here in its imperfection, yet when they are but rightly inclined, and ftand well affected, for the holy way, they will be fpared and favoured by the holy Lord. For this is the only garb and dress, that renders them amiable in his eyes, when they have put on Chrift, and are clothed in the robes of righteousness, and (according to their frail capacity) are holy, as he that has called them is holy; and to come up ftill to a nearer imitation, is their earnest defire and ambition. O, who can exprefs that dear regard he has for them, which paffeth knowledge! 'Tis not to be told, what pleasure the Lord has in his faints, whom he loves with an everlasting love, and will ftill rejoice over them to do them good. And then, my foul, what need I to matter any one's bitterness against me, if the Lord of all has fuch a favour for me? O that I may but be meet for it, bleft with it, and happy in it! And then am I armed against the contempt of the proud, and all the hatred of the world. Then can I fmile at their scoffs and frowns, and flight all their lives and leagues. O may I but have the holy qualifications, which God himself approves and loves! And then let who will

carp